Monday Co-op

Two weeks ago, our Monday Co-op was about seeds. After listening to a story about an acorn that grew into an oak tree as well as doing some seed fingerplays, it was on to craft time. Jacob's seed picture is the one on the top right: I took this picture when we got home and he had eaten quite a few of the pumpkin seeds off his page! There is nothing better than an edible craft in his mind!

After lunch and clean-up we headed outside to enjoy the beautiful 60 degree weather. We decided to head down a trail that led to the creek we spend all summer at. I think everyone was ready to explore the creek and to see if it had changed at all during the winter.

Here, Blake found a fallen branch hanging from some limbs and decided it would make a great "vine" to swing to the other side of the creek.

Parker accidentally dropped his "gun" in the water. Nowadays, every stick somehow magically turns into a gun.

In the creek. It didn't take long for them to hop in and get wet.

Parker is watching from the bridge above

I noticed Jacob sitting along the bank by himself, happily working away. I wasn't sure what he was doing...

then I saw- he was burrying his foot!

I love this picture! Here Blake and Felix are having a conversation while fishing in the creek.

About half of the kids on their way through the woods. We always have such a great time at co-op and the boys have no problems sleeping after spending a couple of hours roaming the woods!

Fun Times

Some of the boys favorite things to do: play with their marble runs and build forts!

Parker is playing with his Daddy's Marble Works set. It is in pretty good shape considering how old it is!

Top view of the marble run Blake and I built

My goofballs.

Here is a good shot at how tall this thing was. It took us about 15 minutes to get it all put together.

Blake has been in a weird mood when it comes to taking pictures...he always makes these goofy faces.

Jacob has always made goofy faces at the camera.

And my sweet Parker!

This fort was in the shape of a circle. They had pillows and flashlights inside and were pretending to go camping.

The box was the entrance.

Baby Update

This pregnancy has been interesting to say the least! Yesterday was my 23 week prenatal appointment with my midwife. Imagine my surprise when I found out I am measuring 28 cm (which equivilates to 28 weeks gestational)! Since we know there is only one baby in there, my midwife now believes I may actually be a month further along than we thought (despite having a regular cycle...sorry if TMI). So, now we are planning to have an early May baby instead of an early June baby!!! We will know more definite at my next appointment, but a lot of symptoms I am having supports this theory. Somehow losing a month has sent me into a bit of a panic. I really, really feel the need to organize/nest and get things in order. I also have some adjusting to our school schedule...I had us planned to finish up this year at the end of May. The upside of this all is that my 9 month pregnancy just became 8!

Other than a jump ahead, she is doing great!

Imbolc/Brigid/Candlemas

Monday marked the midway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. Most people know this as Groundhog's Day, but it also goes by Imbolc/Brigid/Candlemas. It is a time to celebrate the return of light(as the days begin to grow longer) as well as to prepare for spring's upcoming arrival. We were able to celebrate this day with our homeschool co-op. We started our time together with our usual circle song, talked briefly about what this time means and listened to a story about a girl's efforts to make bread. We then followed the story with our own bread making session.

For some reason these pictures are out of order and I cannot move them, but you get the point!Shaping their little loaves. Parker ended up flattening his like a pancake, Jacob molded his into a round boat like shape and pinched the tops together and Blake shaped his into a bowl.

Literally punching the dough! The kids enjoy this part the best.

More bread shaping (notice Jacob taking a little taste).

Working hard.

Waiting for their dough.

After they finished shaping their dough, we then moved on to making butter! We took some raw heavy cream and put it in a mason jar with some marbles and shook away. The kids really enjoyed this part and I had to make sure Jacob didn't get too crazy with it! This was the first time we made butter from scratch and both Parker and Jacob couldn't wait to taste it. While they waited for their bread to rise and bake, we all headed outside for some outdoor play. It was a great afternoon and the kids came home tired and happy (with tummies full of fresh bread and butter). It was a great way to celebrate this day!

Who's been here

Just another example of what Parker does while his brother sleeps! Seriously, we never know what we are going to find when we check on them!

Here She is!

Here are some of the pics from the ultrasound. She was very sleepy and really wasn't cooperating very much. I told the tech that if it had been 10:30 at night, she would have been all over the place...she is consistantly awake at that time. I also have an anterior placenta and she had her head buried in it (like a pillow), so that made it difficult to get some good face shots.

Her little chicken legs! Look at those feet!
Sleepy girl.

The blur to the left is part of the placenta. She was in the process of putting her hand to her face in this pic.

Nice profile shot (again, a little blurry on the left b/c of the placenta).

The tech tried really hard to wake her up and get her to move, but she wouldn't budge. I guess she is going to be just as stubborn as the boys!

Snow!

We have been having some pretty chilly weather lately, so the boys and I were in the mood for making snowflakes! I ended up doing most of the cutting, although they each helped a little. It was their idea to hang them down the hallway. I think it looks a little magical that way!

Last night, their bedtime story was Ollie's Ski Trip by Elsa Beskow (very sweet book!). It must have stirred up King Winter b/c we awoke this morning to a light dusting of snow on the ground! It doesn't snow here often, so we are able to at least enjoy it when it does!

A home for Tandy

Last week in our homeschool co-op, the boys heard a story about a little elf named Tandy who did not have a home during the winter. In the story, his forest friends ended up building him a home when none of their homes suited him.

Yesterday, after Main Lesson, Blake decided he wanted to make a home for Tandy. All the boys participated together...everyone contributed something to the home. They spent about 45 minutes working on it and were so proud of the outcome!

Here is Tandy's home with a roof.

Tandy's home without a roof. There is a little garden off to the side with a flower and a tree (minus leaves of course!)

Top view of the home. To the left is Tandy and to the right is Tandy's friend. They are snuggled warm in their beds with soft, comfy pillows, warm blankets and a dolly friend to keep them company! The boys decided to add a stone path leading from the house to the garden.
They also added some boulders to the garden for Tandy and his friends to climb on.

I thought it turned out beautifully!

Playtime

One of the favorite toys in the house...the island cabinets in the kitchen! The boys love to clear out the pots and pans and climb inside. Sometimes they pretend it is a bus other times a ship and I think it was a house this time. They will play in there for at least an hour.